Air-separator.



separating machine,

GEORGE s. EMEBICK, or PHILADELPHIA, .rEfN'nsYtvANra f AIR-SEPARATOR.

' Application filed January 27,1917. serialNof. 144,831.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. EMERICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new land useful Improvements in Air-Separators, of vwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements air separators for separating the finer particles `from the larger particles vof previously ground or comminutd material and wherein are employeda casing inclosing a separating chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to the casing and having an open to'p and .an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported within the chamber below the upper receptacle and having an upper open end spaced from the'lower end of the upper receptacle, means to feed the previously ground material to the upper receptacle so that it will. descend therethrough, and means to cause air to circuiate through and around said upper receptacle and throu h the space between said receptacles, where y as the ground material descends through the upper receptacle and passes the open space between the receptacles, the air entering said space from the exterior ofthe receptacles and passing up through the upper receptacles will carry with it the finer-particles of the ground material and discharge it outwardly from the upper end of the upper receptacle and into the casing surrounding the same, while the larger particles of the ground material descend into the lower receptacle.

The object of my invention is to improve machines of this class by the' provision of a novel, simple and elfi ient means to regulate the volume of air passing through the space between said receptacles without raising or lowering either of the receptacles; and, withthisobject in view, my invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed. Y. I

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail, showing a portion of the means' for controlling the vol- Speciication of Letters Patent. I

i y Patented Apr. 2a, 191s.

ume of air passing :through ythe space between r'the' receptacles.

Referring tothe draw`ings,"2 designates the outer casing of the machine' which in-A closes the separating chamber 4.' .'Thetlower portion 0f the casing 2 is made tapering and is provided with a discharge opening 5 in the bottom thereof for the discharge of the finer particles of the separated material. j

Nithin the upper portion ofthe chamber 4C and spaced from the casing 2 is the upper receptacle 6 which has an open top and anv open bottom and which is supported by bolts 7 depending from the top 8 of the casing 2 and connected to brackets 9 which project outwardly from the receptacle 6..

Extending vertically through the top l8 of the casing 2, centrally thereof, isa. feed pipe 10 through which the materialrt'o be separated is fed to theimachine. This pipe 10 extends down into vthe receptacle 6 through a hollow, vertical shaft 11 which is mounted to turn in a suitable bearing 12 on the top 8 of the casing 2. The pipe 10 is supported by a bracket 13 suitablysupported above the bearing 12. The shaft 11 is provided with a bevel gear wheel 14 in mesh with a similar wheel 15 on a horizontal shaft 16 which turns in bearings 17 on the top 8 of the casing 2. The shaft 16 isl provided with a pulley 18 by means of whichit and the shaft 16 may be rotated.

The bottom of the shaft .11 carries a pair through which the lower end of the feed pipe 10 extends.

lis rotated, air is caused to circulate through and around the receptacle 6, as will be hereinafter explained.

The central portion of the receptacle 6. is

expanded and the feed plates 19 extend linto the expanded portion of the receptacle, and

The material Vto be separated -is discharged from the bottom of thepipe the diameter of the plates 19 is equal to' or greater .than the diameter of theopen top and the diameter of the open bottom of the receptacle 6, so' that all air passingfeup through the receptacle G will be caused to pass through the curtain of material falling from the feed lates 19. The portion of thev receptacle `6, elow, the feed plates 19.is tapered inwardly and downwardly to receive the ground material fromvthe feed plates 19 and cause it to descend by gravity and tov be thereby discharged from the open bottom ofthe receptacle 6.

,The lower receptacle 2i is .located below the upper receptacle 6 and is spaced thereo from and has an upper open end of a diameterlwhich isequal to or greater than the diameter of theopen bottom of the upper receptacle 6, so that the material f falling from the upper receptacle 6 will be received withinthe lower receptacle 2st. The lower receptacle 24 is supported byspaced arms or `brackets 25 which extend vertically between the vreceptacles 6 and 24 and are securedv thereto. The lower receptacle 24 is made tapering or funnel shaped and its lower end terminates' in a downwardly extending pipe 26 which texteiids outwardly through the casing 2 for the discharge of the larger parf ticles of thev separated: material.

Surrounding the space 27 between the two receptacles 6 and 24 is an inner casing 28 which 'is spaced from the outer casing 2 and from the receptacles 6 and 2l. The upper end -of the casing 28 is closed and connected ing the arms 25 is a horizontally-disposed,`

annular valve .plate 30 which extendsy from the Wall 'of the casing 1go the space 27 and is adapted to control the volume of air passing through the space 27 during lthe operation of the fan 22. The valve plate 30 is supported by suitable cables 31 having their lower ends connected thereto and extending jlp through openings in the top of the casing 28 and over and under guiding rollers and 33, supported on brackets on the receptacle 6 and casing 2, respectively. The upper ends ofthe cables 31 are connected to the lower ends of vertically movable bars 34 which extend through openings in ihe top 8 of the casing 2 and have sui-table handles on the upper ends thereof, b v n'eans of,

which the bars 3l and therewith t el valve plate 30 may be raised antl lowered. The bars 3l are provided with perforations which extend horizontally' therethrough vto receivepins 36 which are adapted to engage 'the top 8 of the casing 2 .and support the bars 3i and valve plate 30 in different pos-itions of adjustment. f

During the circulation of tlie` air within the chamber t, b'y the operatioirof the fan blades 22, the valve plate 30 prevents the air passing up through the casing 28 from passing above the valve plate 30 until after the air passes through the space 27 between the receptacles 6 and 24. It will, therefore, be understood that the volume of air passing through the space 27 may be nicely regulated by adjusting they valve plate 30 vertically to j different positions within the casing 28.

I preferably employ four bars 3l and their connections to adjust and support the valve plate 30, and I space the bars 31, as shown in Fig. 2, so that two men may raise or lower the valve plate 30 by taking hold of the h'andles of two bars 3i on opposite sides of the machine; and so that thereafter the plate 30 may be prevent-ed from tilting by adjusting the two remaining bars 31.

lVhen it is desired to regulate the volume of air passing down between the outer and inner casings 2 and 28, respectively, I provide awertically movable damper 37 which surrounds the inner casing 28 and which is adapted to be raised and lowered by raising and'lowering bars 38 which are connected to the damper 37 by cables 39 passing around suitable guiding pulleys 40. These bars 38 are constructed and adjusted similarly to the bars 34. Y v

kThe operation of the machine is as follows:

Power is applied to 'the pulley 18 to rotate the shaft 16 and therewith thefans 22 and feed plates 19. This operation causes a circulationof air within ythe chamber el and through the inner casing 28 and the upl per receptacle 6` as previously described.

The material to be separated is fed into the machine through the feed pipe 10, and is deposited' upon the lower plate 19 and passes by centrifugal action out through the space between the plates 19 and is discharged from the outer edges thereof into the ".fexpanded portion of the ,ilppei'receptacle 6 and into the air passing upwardly therethrough and around the outer edges of the feed plates 19. The material falls through the upper receptacle 6 and from the open bottom thereof into the open top of the lowe'r receptacle 24 and, during this operation, the -tiner and lighter particles lof the material are carried upwardly by the ascending air and dis# charged outwardly over the top of the upper receptacle 6 while the larger and heavier particles of the, material descend and pass -through the lowerV receptacle 24 and out through the discharge 4pipe 26 leading -from the' bottom thereof. The finer and lighter particles: of the material, after being discharged from the top ofthe upper receptacle 6, descend through the chamber 4 exteriorly 2 It will beobserved that the space 27 between the receptacles 6 and 24 and through which the material lto be separated falls in passing from the upper to the lower recepta'ele remains constant while the valveplate Av may be adjusted to vary the volume of air passing into theL space 27, thereby enabling .me to preserve the distance of travel of the material through theV separating zone, and, atl the same time, to vary the volume of air passing through the space 27 between the receptacles, resulting in a eration. Y

I claim:

.1. In an air separator, the combination of an` outer casing inclosing a'chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber Vin .spaced relation to said 'casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported within the chamber below the upper receptacle and in spaced more efficient op- `relation to said casing and having its upn per end spaced. from the lower end of the upper-receptacle, an inner casing connected to the upper receptacle and extending downwardly therefrom and surrounding the space between said receptacles and. opening into said chamber exteriorly of the receptacles, means to cause air to circulate between said receptacles and through and around said upper receptacle and said inner casing, an adjustable valve within said inner ,casing for varying the space between said receptacles through which air is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said upper'receptacle.

2. In an air. separator, the combination of an outer casing inclosing a chamber, an upa per receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation'to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported within thc'chainber below the upper receptacle and in spaced relation to said casing and having its upper end spaced from the lower end of the upper renyceptacle, an inner casing connected to the upper receptacle and extending downwardly therefrom and having an open bottom and surrounding the space between said receptacles, means to cause air to circulate between said receptacles and through and around said upper receptacle and said inner casing,- a

vertically adjustable valve plate extending horizontally through said inner. casing for varyingr the space between said receptacles through which the air is permitted to circulate, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

3. In an air separator, the combination of an outer casing inclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower tween said receptacles and through and around said upper receptacle and said inner casing, a vertically adjustable valve plate extending horizontally through saidinner receptacles through which the airis permitted to circulate, and means operative to adj-ust said valve and to 'support it in difterent positions of adjustment, and means for feeding the material to be separated to said upper receptacle. j

4. In an air separator, the combination 'of an outer casing inclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a' lower receptacle supported within the chamber below the upper receptacle and in spaced relation `to said casing and having its upper end spaced from the lower end of the upper receptacle, an inner casing connected to the upper receptacle and extending downwardly tacles, means to cause air to circulate 'betherefrom and having an open bottom and tending horizont-ally through said inner casing for varying the space between said receptacles through which the air is permitted to circulate. vertically movable bars extending through the top of the outer casing, cables `connecting said bars and said valve plate, whereby when said bars are raised and lowered said valve plate will be raised and lowered, and means to support said bars in different positions of adjustment.

5. In an air separator, the combination of a casing inclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle supported' within the chamber in spaced relation to said casing and having an open top and an open bottom, a lower receptacle supported within the' chamberbelow the upper receptacle and in spacedrelation to said casing. and having its-upper end spaced. from the lower end of the upper receptacle, means to cause air to circulate through and around said upperl receptacle 85 casing for varying the space between said and through the-space between r.said receptacles,-adjustable` means to vary the space between said receptacles through which the air is permitted to circulate, and -means for feeding the material to be separated to said upper receptacle.

v 6. In an air separator, the combination or' a casing inclosing a chamber, an upper receptacle, means for supporting said receptacle within said chamber in spaced relation to said casing, a lower receptacle below the upper receptacle and having an upper open end spacedrom the lower end of the upper the lower receptacle, means to cause air tol circulate through and around said upper receptacle, and through-fthe space betweensaid receptacles, adjustableunean to v.vary the space between -said receptacles through which the air is permittedtocirculate, and'means for feeding the material to be Vseparated to said upper receptacle. n

In testimony whereof I afixmyrsignature hereto.

l GEORGE SJEMRICK. 

